H-1876.1  _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 2004

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Kastama, Pennington, Van Luven, Boldt, Conway, Wolfe, Lantz, Butler, Cody, Mason, Blalock, Grant, Cooke, Hatfield, Dickerson, Kessler, Keiser, Tokuda and Anderson

 

Read first time 02/18/97.  Referred to Committee on Finance.

Exempting home medical equipment and vehicle modifications for disabled persons from sales and use tax.


    AN ACT Relating to excise tax exemptions for equipment used by individuals to accommodate an illness or disability; adding new sections to chapter 82.08 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 82.12 RCW; and providing an effective date.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 82.08 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of home medical equipment to an individual for personal use by the individual or a member of the individual's immediate family.

    (2) For purposes of this section:

    (a) "Home medical equipment" means medical equipment or devices that are used by a patient at home over an extended period of time for the treatment of a medical condition.  Home medical equipment is equipment that can withstand repeated use and would not be useful to a person in the absence of illness or injury.  Home medical equipment includes, but is not limited to, wheelchairs, hospital beds, standing aids, walking aids, bathroom aids, respirators, splints, trusses, braces, crutches, lifting chairs connected and used in conjunction with a lifting device, and parts and accessories of such items.

    (b) "Immediate family" means an individual's spouse, and child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, half brother, sister, or half sister of the individual.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 82.08 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of:

    (a) Items that become component parts of an eligible motor vehicle for the purpose of modifying the vehicle to enable a person of disability to operate the vehicle or be transported in the vehicle; or

    (b) Labor or services rendered for installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving such items.

    (2) For purposes of this section:

    (a) "Eligible motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle registered to a person entitled to special parking privileges under RCW 46.16.381 or to a member of such person's immediate family.

    (b) "Immediate family" means an individual's spouse, and child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, half brother, sister, or half sister of the individual.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 82.12 RCW to read as follows:

    The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the personal use of home medical equipment, as defined in section 1 of this act, by an individual.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 82.12 RCW to read as follows:

    The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the use of items that become component parts of an eligible motor vehicle, as defined in section 2 of this act, for the purpose of modifying the vehicle to enable a person of disability to operate the vehicle or be transported in the vehicle.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  This act takes effect October 1, 1997.

 


                            --- END ---